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Satsuki bonsai at Kobayashi Sangyou

May 30, 2017 by Jonas Dupuich

Last week’s tour of satsuki bonsai in development at Kanuma’s Kobayashi Sangyou nursery didn’t hint at the general quality of trees there or at the scope of the operation. Most of the six or so greenhouses at the nursery were filled with well developed trees. The smaller, younger, trees were impressive in quality and in number.

Standing in a sea of azaleas

Half of one greenhouse at Kobayashi Sangyou

The rest of the bonsai on site were larger and older. Trunks like the one below were a common sight.

Interesting satsuki trunk

Some of these trees were still in wood boxes or plastic nursery containers. The trunks on these trees were in good shape but more branch work was needed.

Large satsuki in wood box

Satsuki in the branch development phase

Satsuki in plastic garden pot

The more refined trees were in bonsai pots.

Satsuki with large trunk

Trunk detail

Many of the azaleas took informal upright forms.

Yama-no-hikari

Medium sized satsuki – informal upright

Others had simple curves with alternating branches – a standard approach for the variety.

Gentle curves with alternating branches

On the other end of spectrum was an exposed root specimen unlike any other I saw on this trip.

Large exposed root satsuki

Some of my favorite trees at the nursery were conservative in form but with great trunks.

Medium sized satsuki with interesting trunk and branches

Medium sized satsuki azalea

Others took less standard forms.

Satsuki with strong flow to the left

Satsuki with strong flow to the right

After spending two days in Kanuma visiting satsuki nurseries, we headed to the main event – the World Bonsai Convention in Saitama. Photos coming up later this week!

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Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: Japan, Satsuki

Previous Post: « Azaleas in development at Kobayashi Sangyou satsuki bonsai garden
Next Post: Masaru Hazaka Collection at World Bonsai Convention »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michael says

    May 30, 2017 at 5:05 am

    We didn t see any root grafting techniques or young specimen in early stage of development in ground with sacrifice branches etc..?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      May 30, 2017 at 9:33 am

      Hi Michael – different nurseries focus on different aspects of development. Kobayashi Sangyou tends to focus on larger, older, and more developed specimens. None of the nurseries we visited had more than a few young whips. Will have to visit the ground growers next time!

  2. Mac McAtee says

    May 30, 2017 at 7:39 am

    That exposed root plant must be made up of several plants with the roots grafted together to form the pyramid. That is quite a spectacular bonsai, I’d love to see it in bloom.

  3. Craig Schwabauer says

    May 30, 2017 at 10:22 am

    Wow!! Great looking bonsai!!! Thank you for sharing Jonas!

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